Making It Easy - Judy Trautman

The turning point in Judy Trautman's life came in January 1971 when she suddenly found herself "all alone, with two children, two pppies, no money and no job. Of necessity, I was greatly motivated."

She found a temporary job working in the James City County Assessor's Office for two weeks. Then Garland Wooddy, county executive secretary, a title later changed to county administrator, offered her a job assisting his staff. She helped with zoning matters and bookkeeping. She was even assistant voter registrar.

Then a change in Virginia law required the job of voter registrar to be a full-time position. Trautman took over the post in November 1971, right after the election. Since that time, she's worked so hard at the job she has attained one of the highest voter registration percentages in Virginia.

"We want to make it as easy as possible for people to register," she says.

Family: Parents, one sister, two brothers, two grown children.

Hometown: Ashland, Mass.

What makes me tick: I love to brainstorm ideas, to be challenged, to accomplish goals.

Motto: There but for the grace of God go I. The impossible takes a little longer.

Greatest feat: Attaining one of the highest voter registration percentages in Virginia. Being chairman of the local Red Cross chapter and heading the volunteer team which provided for 196 College of William and Mary freshmen when Jefferson Hall was gutted by fire. Writing a fictional "county fair" scenario that turned out to be the basic program of events for James City County's 350th anniversary celebration.

Greatest asset: Empathy; but sometimes it's also my undoing.

Worst fear: Being dependent.

Music: Musicals like "Cats."

Idol: Harry S. Truman, Catherine Wise Short.

Five-year goal: To travel all over the United States and from country to country.